Tech Elevator

...and I still consider attending Tech Elevator's coding bootcamp as one of my life's most impactful decisions.  It allowed me to transition from an unhappy career in restaurants to a more balanced and engaging one in software, and it happened mere weeks... Read More before the world went on lock-down and every kitchen I’d ever cooked in closed for good! The bottom line is that the work is challenging, the instructors are excellent, the career advice is indispensable, and if you apply yourself and basically just follow their suggestions in earnest you will almost certainly get hired upon (or before) graduation.  And that's the whole point- the curriculum is designed to give you a solid foundation to build from, and the Pathway program gets your foot in the door with an employer.  From there it's up to you where you want to go with your career.   After graduation I spent a little time writing features for a java-based framework before being accidentally thrust into the DevOps world. I find the work I do now to be very rewarding. And although little of what I touch day-to-day was covered specifically in the curriculum at Tech Elevator, the foundational knowledge we were given is universal. And most importantly I (re)learned how to learn there. Picking up new tools, frameworks, and languages is still very hard, but I don’t find the firehose of knowledge as daunting anymore. None of this would have happened without the help of my incredible instructors and Pathway directors at Tech Elevator!

Last year, after a few conversations with Amber Brantley and Caitie Zajko, I applied to Tech Elevator. I did it because I felt they could help me get hired as a software developer. I got admitted and in July, one month before graduation, I already had... Read More a job offer with the company I wanted to work for. I think that Tech Elevator has a great program. They have excellent instructors who have been technical leads and know how teams work in companies. My instructor was Rich Seeds. He covered not only what was part of the curriculum. He taught us the little tricks that will not appear in a manual or an online course and that you only get with experience. Yoah Morahg, the other instructor, was always equally available when we had questions. The pathway program is the career portion of the program and it is equally important for the students. I think it made me take a deep look at myself, which in turn made it easier for me to have career conversations. The program was led by Aly Brine and the campus director, Caitie Zajko. For me this was particularly important. They had a lot of activities. People from different companies come to visit and you can ask questions to IT directors, Vice Presidents, recruiters. I think that they also take great care in selecting students and I really like the people that I met. Actually, I am still in touch with some of them and feel that we will be friends for life. Another thing that impressed me was that you feel that they all really care for you and that they want you to be successful. The program can be demanding at times but I enjoyed my experience and it was very valuable to me. I was very happy that I attended Tech Elevator and think it was one of the best decisions I ever took.

I remember being in the shoes you are in right now, i.e., debating on whether or not you should apply to Tech Elevator, quit your job, and spend 3 and a 1/2 months essentially learning how to converse in a foreign language like a native of that language.... Read More I remember the doubts that kept creeping in: I'm not good enough, I'm going to fail miserably and let myself and my loved ones down, I'm too old to switch careers, this is a young person's game, I'm going to waste all that tuition money, etc. So, how did I pierce through all of that and ultimately make the decision to attend Tech Elevator, and what was my experience like? Whenever doubt crept in, I kept reminding myself that I'm capable, that I'm worth it, that my loved ones believe in me, that there was still something missing in my career that I needed to change, and most importantly that not trying is far worse than trying and failing. And I'm incredibly happy that I made the decision. I will be honest in this review and tell you that it's very challenging. There is a lot of work to do, a lot of exercises to complete, a lot of concepts to understand, a lot of hitting a wall and pulling your hair out trying to figure out why your test is failing or your code is not compiling. You will have late nights, and you will have to get out of your comfort zone and work with other classmates on homework, paired-programming exercises, and capstone projects. You will have to accept that there may be times when you need to ask for help. But I'm telling you that it's all worth it. It is a crucible through which you enter as someone that you and your loved ones are very familiar with, and you come out a different, changed, better person. You will find out that you are a lot stronger, braver, and smarter than you think you are. You will realize quickly that your fear of looking stupid is the same fear that everyone else has. You will realize that others want to see you succeed as much as you do, and as a result will help you, and you will in turn help them. The instructors are amazing, the graduate assistants are amazing, the Pathway program is amazing, the curriculum is amazing. It's all amazing. And if you're worried about having to work remotely like I was (due to COVID), I can attest that it was actually more comfortable and just as effective, if not more. They have mastered leveraging existing technology to make the student experience enjoyable, easy, and totally conducive to achieving success. Take it from me, a 41 year-old former teacher, with a lifelong cache of self-doubt and self-criticism and enough imposter syndrome to fill a psychology textbook. I made the choice to apply, then I made the choice to attend after being accepted, then I made the choice to wake up everyday and give it 100%, then I made the choice to stick with it through all of the doubt, and so on and so on. I made a series of choices and just kept making them, until I got an actual job as a software developer in the industry, just before graduating from the program. And choosing Tech Elevator is a choice I can't recommend enough. It will change your life. Pros and cons The technology they use made it easy to learn and work with classmates remotely. The instructors taught us everything we needed to know and did so incredibly effectively. The graduate assistant and instructors were available throughout the day for help when you need it. The curriculum was great. The Pathway program was absolutely critical and was a huge reason why I was able to get a job in the industry. There are many pros, too many to count. It's not cheap. However, for what you get, I think it's a steal. If you can secure funding (loan, savings, income share agreement, etc), then it's not so bad, especially since there are many loans that have very reasonable terms and conditions.

Making the decision to join a coding bootcamp is incredibly nerve-racking. For most of the students I enrolled with, they were making a huge career change and taking a giant leap of faith. Including me. That being said everything about the Tech Elevator... Read More program went above and beyond anything I could've ever expected. It honestly was the best decision I have made in my life. If you are someone that knows coding is your future, then I would 10,000% recommend Tech Elevator as the school that will get you to that future. The content of the program was fulfilling, and I came out of it knowing I could succeed in the industry. The instructors are readily available to go over anything you are learning in the curriculum. Most of everything I was asked in any technical interview was covered during the course. The 14 weeks are incredibly challenging and there isn't a day wasted. You will come out of it prepared for any junior level developer job. I would suggest doing a basic coding tutorial before day one. It will go along way in the first couple of weeks, which is where I saw a lot of people struggling the most. Everyone from the pathway program worked incredibly hard to prepare me for my interviews, which in my opinion is where Tech Elevator really separates themselves from other bootcamps. You will give your elevator pitch multiple times to employers. You will also do many mock interviews with that will prepare you for any question that might be thrown your way. I have never been so prepared for any interview in my life, and I think that is the main reason I landed my current job. Also, shoutout to Peggy! She can answer any question about the job hunt that you could possibly think of. I think if you are ready for the career change and can afford it, this is the bootcamp for you! It's worth it.

I've always wanted to have a career as a software developer, and when I was laid off from my job because of the pandemic, I decided there was no better time to just finally DO IT. After extensive research, I chose to go the bootcamp route instead of going... Read More back for another degree and Tech Elevator was in my short list of options. The main reason I picked TE was because of how localized it is. I wanted a bootcamp that knew my area and had connections to companies there. I was also appreciative of their application process, the screening/pre-work, and how they helped to get you ready for the bootcamp before it even started. Bootcamps are still a fairly new concept and they all have some bugs to still work out. But TE is on track to being a shining example of what a bootcamp should be. Their curriculum is challenging and relevant, their staff cares about their students, and their growing local networks provide many opportunities to their students. Overall, I am very happy with my decision to not only attend a software engineering bootcamp but also that I chose Tech Elevator. Pros: -instructors are knowledgable, helpful, passionate about teaching, and greatly care for their students' success -Java is a challenging programming language to learn and their curriculum breaks it down into very manageable pieces -matchmaking with local companies, many of which may lead to job offers -post-graduation support to help you prep for interview and keep you on track with your job searching Cons: -some of the career-prep content is too generic, lacking in content, and doesn't feel individualized Cons: -some of the career-prep content is too generic, lacking in content, and doesn't feel individualized

If you had told me 6 months ago that after attending a coding bootcamp I'd have a job at a Fortune 20 company making 4x what I make now with a career outlook that is literally infinite -- I would have called you crazy. I had always thought that a career... Read More in tech was so distant and unattainable because I didn't go to college for Computer Science, and when I tried to learn how to code on my own I just didn't have the willpower and time to really build a portfolio in order to get a job. I felt stuck, and back then I had no idea what was actually possible. Luckily, I finally made the leap and signed up at Tech Elevator Cleveland. The hardest thing I've ever had to do was move back in at my parents, quit my job, and take out a $15,500 loan to join a school I wasn't sure that could deliver on their promises. I had read so many mixed, and quite frankly mostly negative reviews and opinions, on coding bootcamps all across the internet, whether it was Reddit, blogs, or articles -- everyone had something terrible to say about them. Don't listen to these people, they are so, so so wrong. Whatever your financial situation is, education, or background, you can and should attend a high quality coding bootcamp like Tech Elevator! My boss now says they actually prefer hiring bootcampers as they have more applicable skills, workprofessional experience, and can hit the ground running right away. The program at TE is incredibly thorough and gives you all the skills you will need to get a great job as a Software EngineerDeveloper or other non coding-based tech role (Product Owner for instance). It is extremely difficult and will be one of the hardest things you've ever done, and I say that as someone who had prior coding knowledge and went to college and loves to learn, but it was still incredibly difficult! Don't worry if you don't have prior knowledge though, I saw many of my peers without coding experience make it through just like I did, you just have to believe in yourself and not give up and the staff at TE will do the rest to see you through!! My instructor was one of my favorite instructors I've ever had. She was very experienced and could expound upon advanced concepts and had a wide breadth of knowledge across the entire software stack. Her teaching style was awesome, she made sure everyone was absorbing the knowledge and wouldn't let the quiet people in the back of the class get away without learning the material. She was also hilarious and made the entire process so fun and enjoyable. The pathway program is an entirely different side of the whole experience that I completely overlooked and didn't pay much attention to prior to signing up, but that is so crucial to your success in finding a job. While they don't guarantee you get a job, they will honestly do every single thing in their power to make sure you get one, and as long as you put in the effort you will get a great job! I loved my pathway instructorclasses just as much as I loved my coding instructorclasses, and that is what sets TE apart from the rest from what I've heard from other people that have gone to similar bootcamps. TE delivers the entire package. Shoutout to Beth, Katie, and the rest of the TE staff. I owe you big time!!! <3 The most satisfying part of the entire experience was after graduating and getting my first job as a Software Engineer, I realized I could do absolutely ANYTHING I set my mind to. It was by far the hardest thing I've ever done, but I did it, and TE taught me that.

Like many joining Tech Elevator and similar other bootcamps, I was someone who had been teaching myself code through various self-paced online courses and YouTube videos, and decided I wanted to pursue coding full-time. This is something that is probably... Read More said over and over again, but BE PREPARED FOR ALOT OF WORK. You will be in class for 3+ hours a day, often spend just as much time on homework, and there's other pair programming projects and not to mention capstones. And then the stress gets a bit more compounded by week 10, when Matchmaking and job applications come along. Despite being stressed constantly and hunched over a computer for 10 hours a day sometimes, it was one of the best decisions I could ever possibly make for my career trajectory, as I was slowly but surely approaching burnout in my previous position. The price tag was difficult to swallow, but after someone I know recommending the experience to me and seeing her succeed, I decided to finally bite the bullet after mulling it over, for more than a year. Instructors are very knowledgeable, approachable, and are more than happy to help with your interview prep and advice on job offers, when that time comes. I ended up interviewing with 2 companies, and had to bow out of one of them after accepting an offer from the other. I'm on track to make more than I was in my previous (reasonably well-paid) job, and my earning trajectory in the next 2 years should hopefully only continue to grow and exceed anything I could anticipate even 5 years down the line in my previous career. So financially, it does pay off, and the work continues to be infinitely more interesting and rewarding. Words of advice for anyone considering Tech Elevator: 1- There are no shortcuts to becoming a good software developer. TE tries to teach you as much as possible in as short a period of time as possible, but you have to do the work. This is really about putting in the hours yourself, doing your own side projects if at all possible, and really just trying to become good at this, in due time. 2-To that end, the best thing you could do to prepare and to get the most out your experience while you're in it, is to LEARN AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE beforehand. This may seem counterintuitive, but this will be the biggest favor you could for your future self. With the pace that TE moves at, its easy to get overwhelmed, and having prior exposure to programming and CS concepts will really help you build on your knowledge and perhaps soak in new things you haven't before. And will help you keep your sanity. Not to mention, help you determine if you really like coding to begin with, before biting this expensive bullet. 3- Take the opportunity to collaborate with other students. This is something that took me a while, but doing homework or figuring out a problem with other classmates helped me think in different ways and get me past walls I was hitting. Not to mention, I made great friends along the way. 4-Take full advantage of the Pathway directors. They are a really important resource. Even if this isn't your first time on the job market, they have amazing insight and connections into the interview and placement process.

The program at Tech Elevator as well as the staff is the best in the business. Switching careers can be an overwhelming and daunting move but the Tech Elevator team understands this and does a great job of setting you up for success. On top of the incredible... Read More curriculum and instructors, TE provides a Pathway program that walks you through every step needed to find a job once the program is done. If you are considering a career change to software development, I couldn’t recommend Tech Elevator enough.

This was a great course to be a part of, and I learned A LOT in my time here. I would recommend getting familiar with the basic concepts of the different languages you will learn, as it is a very fast paced course. If you enjoy friendly instructors that... Read More are willing to put in the time for you, even if it's after hours, then I highly recommend this bootcamp!

For several years I had been interested in learning how to code, and I was introduced to Tech Elevator by a childhoold friend who was the then Campus Director. She called me to see if my current employer would be interested in hiring junior devs, however... Read More that department wasn't in Cincinnati. In any case, she was able to give me great insight on the program, and I trusted her since we went way back. When circumstances finally aligned I applied and was accepted (I actually applied twice and was accepted twice, but timing didn't line up the first time). I can't say enough good things about the training. I felt they did a really great job even though we were still in the midst of the pandemic and everything was remote. After graduation the pandemic was still going and I felt like I was slugging through the hiring process without much success. However, I met regularly with my Pathway Director who helped me continue to tweak my resume, update my LinkedIn and offer her expertise with my job hunt. She also continued to match me with prospective employers when the opportunity would arise. And, finally it happened. I got an offer about 5 months after graduation. I come from a sales background, and I understand the importance of delivering on the expectations that I would set for new customers. Tech Elevator certainly delivered on the expectations they set. Finally, I know people from my class who still haven't gotten a job in tech. They make up that small percentage of people who it doesn't happen for in six months, but I feel pretty confortable in saying that it isn't for a lack of effort on Tech Elevator's part. Tech Elevator has the curriculum and the support to help people transition in to tech; all that is required from you is effort!